SDLP: ‘Waiting times totally unacceptable’-Gerard Diver

Outgoing SDLP MLA Gerard Diver has described waiting times for inpatients at Altnagelvin Hospital as “totally unacceptable.”

Mr Diver’s comments came after it was revealed that almost 1,500 have been waiting in excess of one year for inpatient treatment.

He said: “The fact of the matter is that people are dying on these lists. This is not good enough.”

More than 10% of those waiting on treatment, 1 475 of the total 11, 552 patients on Health Trust waiting lists have been expecting an in patient procedure for 12 months or more.

The figures were released to Gerard Diver, following a question on the matter was tabled at Stormont.

The SDLP representative continued by saying that any new NI Executive: “Must continue to take the huge strides necessary to ensure the management of our health service matches the professionalism and dedication of its own front line staff.

“While the announcement of £70 million in funds to address the lists is welcome, we need to ensure that measures are taken to prevent such a situation from ever rising again.

“In the new mandate I will be pressing any new Health Minister to outline the steps and targets required to address waiting lists and avoiding such a scenario reoccurring.”